‘WE ARE SHOCKED BY THESE COMMENTS...’

A response to Professor Dylan Jones-Evans from Mark James, chief executive of Carmarthenshire Council, and Rob Stewart, leader of Swansea council, on behalf of the Swansea Bay City Deal board: After many months of intensive effort led by Sir Terry Matthews and the leaders of four local authorities, we await the announcement of a City Deal for the Swansea Bay City Region.

The Deal has the potential to re-energise the regional economy and has the unanimous support of the local authorities, universities, health boards and, more importantly, the private sector.

We are shocked and surprised to read Professor Jones-Evans’ comments, which are a misrepresentation of Sir Terry Matthews’ continued vision of the Swansea Bay City Deal.

Under Sir Terry’s chairmanship, the final Swansea Bay City Deal bid has the full endorsement of the board.

Sir Terry Matthews reconfirmed his commitment in a letter sent during the past two weeks to the Secretary of State for Wales.

The focus on energy innovation, smart manufacturing, digital infrastructure and development of 5G, medical innovation, life sciences and creative industries has been well thought-through and complements Sir Terry’s initial vision.

In a meeting last week in Swansea, some 25 businesses from across the region came together with representatives of the UK Government to express their views of the deal, something CBI Wales has recently branded innovative and visionary.

All were supportive and saw the mix of the “next generation” business investment that all the projects set out as the way of lifting our region, creating thousands of jobs, diversifying our economy and providing opportunities that simply don’t exist at present.

It is the application of the digital innovation and infrastructure that will create the new, higher-paid jobs that the region needs.

Read their response in full by visiting the business section of WalesOnline.